Method of taping and pressing seams



- Nov. 8, 1949 J. M. CALDER METHOD OF TAPING AND PRESSING SEAMS Original Filed Sept. 25, 1945 Patented Nov. 8, 1949 METHOD OF TAPING AND PRESSING SEAMS John M. Calder, Lynn, Mass, assignor to Boston Machine Works Company, Lynn, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application September 25, 1945, Serial No. 618,498. Divided and this application August 27-, 1947, Serial No. 770,791

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a method of applying an adhesive tape to a seam such as the seam of a shoe part and pressing the tape thus applied. This application is divided from my co-pending application, Serial No. 618,498, filed September 25, 1945 now Patent No. 2,442,035, granted May 25, 1948.

It is an object of the invention to apply to a seam, such as the seam which unites the parts of a two-piece quarter of a shoe, a strip of tape having an adhesive film on one face thereof, the

mode of application being such as topromote' rapidityof application and smoothness of the applied tape.

The back portion of a shoe quarter is usually convex outwardly and it is desirable that its curvature be preserved when the seam is taped and pressed. According to the present invention, a quarter is pushed onto a convex surface of similar curvature, the surface being broken by a central front-to-rear channel or groove adapted to receive the seam ridge. As the quarter is slid onto this surface, a tape is also slid onto the surface between the surface and the seamed portion of the shoe part. The upper face of the tape is coated with an adhesive film so that the tape is progressively joined to the seamed area as the quarter and tape are advanced together on the grooved surface. When the tape has thus been applied to the entire length of the seam, a complementally concaved member is brought down to press the tape and quarter together and the groove is eliminated by relative movement between its bottom and the adjacent portions of the supporting surface so that the supporting surface becomes continuous.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description thereof and to the drawing, of which- Figure- 1 is a perspective view of a shoe quarter which has been operated on by my improved method;

Figure 2 is a partial front elevation of a mechanism which may be employed in practicing my improved method;

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 6;

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure '7;

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is a section on line '|l of Figure 5.

The apparatus illustrated on the drawing includes a main frame member ID on which is mounted an anvil l2 having a rounded upper face.

The anvil is providedwith two movable upper sections I4 and it, which are connected with the main portion of the anvil by bolts l8 and 20 which permit limited vertical movement of each of the sections [4 and l6. These sections are normally retained in an elevated position by compression springs 22 and 24, and when thus elevatedfthe upper surfaces of the sections l4 and 16 are slightly above the upper surface of the central portion 30 of the anvil I2, so that a shallow channel 32 is formed in the upper surface of the anvil as a whole, this channel extending from front to rear.

This channel is adapted to receive the ridge 34 of a Seam which unites the two parts of a quarter or other shoe part. In order to introduce the shoe quarter to its position between the anvil I2 and a presser member 40 which is'directly above itthe quarter is slid onto the upper surface of the anvil from the frontof the machine, the seam ridge being directed into the channel 32. As the shoe quarter is being slid onto the upper surface of the anvil, it is progressively united to the tacky face of a tape 42 which is drawn from a supply roll (not shown) and is led up the front face of the anvil behind a guide member 44. At the beginning of the operation, the end of the tape is at the front end of the channel 32. The tape is arranged so that its tacky surface is forward. When the leading end of the seam is applied to the anvil, it is placed against the end of the tape, and the quarter and tape are pushed together onto the top of the anvil, the tape being progressively joined to the seam under the quarter as the two progress across the top surface of the anvil.

When the entire seam has thus been taped and lies on the upper surface of the anvil with its mid-portion in the channel 32 under the seam ridge, as illustrated in Figure 6, the presser, member 40 is caused to descend. As it descends; it presses the anvil sections l4 and I6 down against the pressure of the springs 22 and 24 until the tops of the sections l4 and it are flush with the top of the central section 30 of the anvil, thus eliminating the channel 32, as indicated in Figure '7. This presses the seam ridge flat and, at the same time, presses the tape strongly against the seam. Since the top surface of the anvil is curved, as indicated in Figures 3, 4 and 5, to correspond to the desired curvature of the back seam in the finished quarter, the result of the pressing operation is to retain the quarter in its desired shape, as illustrated in Figure 1.

If desired, a spring-pressed foot 46 may be mounted on the front face of the presser member 40 to bear resiliently on the top of the anvil at the front thereof. As the Work is pushed across the top of the anvil, the foot 46 rubs thereon and presses the -uai ter into a firm, sinooth en:- gagernent with he tape underneath 'it. The Work is thus prepared for the heavier pressure of the pressing member. When the presser memb'er descends, a knife 53 on th'eidr'w'ztrdend thereof cuts on? the tape so that when the presser is raised to release the quarter,'a"iiew tapefe'nd ready to receive the next quarter- 'to'be'pressed. This new tape end is clamped in place by the foot 6 so as to be in its proper position to receive the next quarter.

I claim:

1. A method of taping a seam joining two pieces of a shoe part or the like, comprising pressing an end of the seam against the tacky face of a'tape at the endithereof', moving the seam and tape over a grooved surface so that the seam follows the groove, theis'eain heing pro'gresi 'jsively joined to the tape as th'e'seain andtape move along .the' groove, and pressing jsiinul taneousl'y the entire length of the seam withtljie uarant ed the'g'rooves." A method of tapingthe back searn of ashoe ,quarter, comprising pressing 'a'nenfdioff the seam against the free end of a tape having a tacky face, progressively applying said. tapejalong said seam, pushing said tape and quarteriuponfla curved supporting surface ,progressivelfasthe tape and quarter arejoined, and pressing 'sin iul taneouslythe entire length of the seam' aneme section oftape thereonl 3. A methodof taping the .back seam'pof a shoe quarter, which comprises leading a tape with a tacky face up the front face ofian anvilhavii g a top surface with a convex curvature corresponding to that of said quarter and having a depressed central portion forming a channel, pressing said quarter at an end of said seam on the free end of said tape, proving said quarter and tape' along said chanriel while progressively b'r'iiiging the'seam into""contact with the tape until the entire seam is applied to the tape and is over said channel, pressing down on the entire length of the seam with a pressing surface cornplernental to the ,top of the anvil and, at the same tiniebringing the central and flanking sur- "face pi tionsofthe anvil top into continuity so that the channel is eliminated.

51. A method of taping a seam joining two pieces offa shoe part or the like, comprising pressing an end of the seam against the tacky face of a tape at the end thereof, progressively joining the seam to the tape throughout the le h o t e s m a i ta an are e a on me op curve 's i face" o ia an i pr me'd wii on's and tan; wi it k rf c' e lplemee t 1' I 'a Of hg n wi and simultaneously cutting said tape at ftli other JOHN M. CAnn R.

R F BE Y ES 1m? The o win fieieree are o swrs 11 th? file of patent:

UN TFD ME Mf -Ems 

